Rent rise and benefit cut blamed as council house waiting list tops 100,000

The number of people waiting for council houses in Greater Manchester has doubled since 1997.

The number of people waiting for council houses in Greater Manchester has doubled since 1997.

New government figures show the number of people waiting for homes has gone from 50,466 in 1997 to 102,025 last year.

Council officers blame rising rents and reductions to benefits – and say the combination is creating huge numbers of people who need help with housing.

According to data released by homeless charity Shelter, Greater Manchester councils have built only 200 houses since 2007, exacerbating the problem further.

A spokesman for Manchester council, which had 19,311 waiting for social housing according to the latest figures, said: “We have seen a rise nationally in social housing waiting lists that have grown in tandem with ever rising private sector prices and changes in benefits, restricting housing support – all of which are combining to make private rents less attractive and social housing a more appealing option.

However, housing statistics can only ever provide a snapshot at one specific moment in time and they don’t always show the true picture.

“Our average housing register number is closer to 17,500, but the number of people with the highest priority need is on average less than 500 households at any one time.”

Bolton’s council housing waiting list has shot up over the past decade and is now one of the highest in the country.

Although there are many people on the waiting lists, applicants are prioritised according to strict criteria, including whether they are homeless, sick, have children or are living in overcrowded properties. This means there is a huge variation in waiting times for new homes.

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